Out Our Way first saw the light of day as a single-panel cartoon March 20, 1922. Created by J.R. Williams it depicted American rural and small town life. The strip acted as an umbrella for several series, which included 'The Bull Of The Woods', 'Why Mothers Get Gray' and 'Heroes Are Made, Not Born'.

Another recurring title was 'Worry Wart' that starred a young boy. Other regular characters included a cowboy named Curly and Wes a ranch bookkeeper. When a Sunday page was launched some of the characters were grouped together as the Willet family. At its height Out Our Way appeared in more than 700 newspapers, with a readership in the millions.

J. R. Williams died in 1957, but Out Our Way continued to be produced by among others: Neg Cochran, Paul Gringle and Ed Sullivan. The last strip was produced in 1977, twenty years after Williams' death and fifty-five years since it launched.